N° 23–2021: Call for media: Quantum to be launched

On 27 July, Quantum will launch on board an Ariane 5 from the European Space Port in Kourou, French Guiana.

Quantum is a sophisticated commercial satellite that is capable of being reprogrammed after launch. It will be able to respond to changing demands on Earth during its 15-year lifetime, providing data, communications and entertainment exactly where and when it is wanted. Rather than broadcast to Earth with fixed beams, Quantum will let people choose where to point their beams. These can move in virtual real time to provide information to passengers on-board moving planes or ships. The beams can also be adjusted at the push of a button, so that more data is delivered when demand surges.

The satellite was developed under an ESA Partnership project with operator Eutelsat and satellite manufacturers Airbus as the prime manufacturer and Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd for the platform.

Programme

Date: Tuesday, 13 July 2021

Time: 14:30-15:30 CEST

Participants

• Josef Aschbacher, Director General, ESA
• Paul Gidney, Head of Payload Products at Airbus Space UK
• Frédéric Piro, Eutelsat Quantum Programme Manager, Eutelsat
• Ben Stocker, Projects Director, Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd
• Graham Turnock, Chief Executive, UK Space Agency
• Elodie Viau, Director of Telecommunications and Integrated Applications, ESA

The event will be moderated by Ninja Menning, Head of ESA’s Newsroom and Media Relations.

Media registration

Journalists are invited to register by Monday 12 July 2021 via https://blogs.esa.int/forms/esa-media-briefing-form/

Registered media will receive an email with details on how to join. The briefing will be in English.

This event will also be streamed for the public at esawebtv.esa.int , but only registered media will be able to ask questions. 

Contact

For further questions or interview requests, media are invited to contact media@esa.int 

Further information

https://www.esa.int/Applications/Telecommunications_Integrated_Applications/Quantum

Social media

Twitter: @esa, @EsaTelecoms
Facebook: @EuropeanSpaceAgency
Instagram: @europeanspaceagency
YouTube: ESA
LinkedIn: ESA

Hashtags: #Connectivity #Quantum

Images

https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images

Terms and conditions for using ESA images:
www.esa.int/spaceinimages/ESA_Multimedia/Copyright_Notice_Images

For questions or more information related to ESA images, please contact directly spaceinimages@esa.int.

Videos

https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Videos

Terms and conditions for using ESA videos:
https://www.esa.int/spaceinvideos/Terms_and_Conditions

For questions or more information related to ESA videos, please contact directly spaceinvideos@esa.int.

About the European Space Agency

The European Space Agency (ESA) provides Europe’s gateway to space.

ESA is an intergovernmental organisation, created in 1975, with the mission to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space delivers benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.

ESA has 22 Member States: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Slovenia, Latvia and Lithuania are Associate Members.

ESA has established formal cooperation with five Member States of the EU. Canada takes part in some ESA programmes under a Cooperation Agreement.

By coordinating the financial and intellectual resources of its members, ESA can undertake programmes and activities far beyond the scope of any single European country. It is working in particular with the EU on implementing the Galileo and Copernicus programmes as well as with Eumetsat for the development of meteorological missions.

Learn more about ESA at www.esa.int

For further information:

ESA Newsroom and Media Relations Office – Ninja Menning

Email: media@esa.int

Tel: +31 71 565 6409